Wear-resisting spikes for shoes

ABSTRACT

A TUNGSTEN CARBIDE SMALL SPIKE IS ENCLOSED AND SECURED IN A METAL JACKET OF SOFTER AND LESS HARD MATERIAL THAN THE SPIKE BUT WITH THE SPIKE PROJECTING OUT OF THE JACKET. THIS JACKET HAS AN EXTERNALLY THREADED UPPER END PORTION FOR RECEPTION IN THE USUAL INTERNALLY THREADED METAL INSERT COMMONLY FOUND IN GOLF SHOES. A USUAL DISHED FLANGE AROUND A MID-PORTION OF SAID JACKET LIMITS THE DEGREE TO WHICH THE JACKET THREADED UPPER END CAN BE INSERTED INTO AN INSERT IN A USUAL GOLF SHOE.

Jan. 5, 1971 MQFFA 3,552,043

WEAR-RESISTING SPIKES FOR SHOES Filed May 1, 1969 A? 00/6 1 MOW/34 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,552,043 WEAR-RESISTIN G SPIKES FOR SHOES Louis J. Moifa, 224 Garden Ave., Horsham, Pa. 19044 Filed May 1, 1969, Ser. No. 820,818 Int. Cl. A43c 15/00 US. Cl. 36-67 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tungsten carbide small spike is enclosed and secured in a metal jacket of softer and less hard material than the spike but with the spike projecting out of the jacket. This jacket has an externally threaded upper end portion for reception in the usual internally threaded metal insert commonly found in golf shoes. A usual dished flange around a mid-portion of said jacket limits the degree to which the jacket threaded upper end can be inserted into an insert in a usual golf shoe.

BACKGROUND Many types of spikes have been suggested for golf shoes, but none were found having the long wear of the present invention. For example Wilcox 2,697,288 dated Dec. 21, 1954 (36-59) is the closest found to the present invention for a golf shoe.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION A chief difference over Wilcox mentioned above is the absence of any tungsten carbide lower tip for the spike or spur to obtain more definitely longer wear.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the spike of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view showing the spike of this invention inserted in a golf shoe.

As shown in FIGURES 1, 3, and 4, the long wearing spike of this invention includes two elements, namely the spike or tip of tungsten carbide and an enclosing jacket 11 of softer and less hard steel, which are secured together in any convenient manner such as by a press fit, silver or other convenient metal solder, or a non-metallic solder of suitable plastic material. A press fit is preferred and contemplates slightly more than the immediately contiguous portion of the jacket being tapered internally to about the same degree as is the element 10 but for a slight longer longitudinal distance to reduce the cost of very precise dimensions. The bevel 12 is about 45; the lower end 13 is preferably not sharply pointed for avoiding damage to a locker room wood floor and elsewhere. The length of element 10 has been found conveniently to be about of an inch. As inexpensive a way in which this hard element 10 may be secured in place has been found to require no more than one or two smart blows with a hammer directly against the flat tip 13 to deform the jacket internal taper just enough to tightly hold this tungsten carbide element against falling out. Such is familiarly known as a press fit.

While the dimensions of this element 10 are usually secondary, one example will suffice to exemplify a preferred embodiment. The metal jacket 11 may have a total length of only about half an inch. The flange 19 is .05 of an inch thick and has a diameter of about .937 3:.010 of an inch. This flange may be integral with the rest of the jacket or non-integral and secured in place by upsetting enough of the jacket material above and below the flange to hold it in place as shown at 20 and 21. Preferably this flange is given the dished shape shown in FIGURE 3 to enable it to function as a lock washer and to insure the threads 15 on the jacket 11 tightly pressing downward on the upper portion of the threads 16 inside the metal insert 17 in the outer sole 18a of golf shoes, as is common practice today. The inner sole of such shoes is shown by the numeral 18b in FIGURE 4 herein.

The spikes 10 with their individual jackets may be screwed to the metal inserts 17 by the shoe manufacturer or they may be sold separately and attached to a pair of golf shoes whether old or new.

Regardless of whether the spikes of this invention be inserted in new or old shoes it has been discovered the present spikes will outlast the life of the shoes due to the hard wear-resisting tungsten carbide element 10. While only one spake and its jacket has been shown it should be kept in mind the usual number of metal inserts 17, and the corresponding number of tungsten carbide elements are provided in the sole and heel of the usual golf shoe. The material for the jacket 11 may be any cold rolled steel for easy machineability. The taper should preferably be about .096 inch at the top and .113 inch at the lower end. About 12% to 20% cobalt is desirable as the binder inside element 10. It has been estimated this invention enables 400% to 500% longer wear of the spikes in golf shoes. Where a plastic has been referred to, an epoxy cement is useful for holding the tungsten carbide element 10 in place within the jacket 11.

Other hardening materials are included in the term tungsten carbide.

What is claimed is:

1. A spike assembly for a shoe sole comprising an internally threaded insert for securement within a shoe sole, an elongated tubular jacket member having an upper threaded portion within said insert and a lower portion, the tubular portion of said lower portion having an inner surface tapering downwardly and outwardly, a tungsten carbide spike element having an upwardly and inwardly tapered portion press-fitted within said downwardly and outwardly tapered portion of the jacket lower portion and a lower portion extending outwardly therefrom, and a flange element secured about the jacket member for engaging a lower surface of a shoe.

2. A spike assembly according to claim 1 in which said flange is dished and has an outer edge which is adapted to engage a shoe sole before the radial inner portion of the flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,195,246 7/1965 Ueda 36-67(.5) 3,492,744 2/1970 Bernier et. a1. 3659 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,476 3/1907 England 36-67(2) 450,226 4/1968 Switzerland 36-67(.2)

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner. 

